wisconsin school forest garlic mustard monitoring: engaging teachers and students

Wisconsin School Forest Garlic Mustard Monitoring:

Engaging Teachers and Students

Jeremy SolinWisconsin School Forest Coordinator

October 21, 2005Citizen-based Monitoring Conference

Wisconsin School Forest Garlic Mustard Monitoring

Wisconsin School Forest ProgramGarlic Mustard Monitoring ProjectFuture SF Monitoring Projects

School Forest History

School & Community Forest Law – 1927

1st School Forests at Laona, Wabeno and Crandon

Goals– Reforestation– Income

School Forest Opportunities

Meet state education standards Integrate environmental education

into curriculumDemonstrate sustainable

natural resources management Strengthen school/community relationshipsProvide income for schools/school forests

School Forests Today

~ 345 School Forests190 different public school districts (45%)66 of 72 countiesRange of sizes (>24,000 acres in total)Range of utilization (daily – never)

Wisconsin School Forest Program

Wisconsin School Forest Ed. SpecialistLEAF - The Wisconsin K-12 Forestry Education

ProgramWisconsin Center for Environmental Education and

the WDNR - Forestry

School Forest Garlic Mustard Monitoring

Wisconsin NatureMapping “Special Project”Teacher TrainingTeacher and Student UseDataContinuation

Wisconsin NatureMapping Special Project

Teacher Training

May 7, 200520 Teachers, 17 DistrictsGarlic Mustard natural

history and controlWisconsin NatureMappingGPSData collection and

submission

Teacher and Student Use

16 sites surveyedStudents involved in most of

the surveysAt least 4 teachers immediately used

the materials in their classroomAll survey respondents (10) expected

to use the project in their classroom

Garlic Mustard Data

Area Surveyed 16 sites average area of site = 46

acres average area surveyed =

26 acres

Garlic Mustard Data

Garlic Mustard Presence: 9 sites with garlic mustard 8 in counties with documented

presence 1 in Waushara County (GM not

previously documented) 1 site in a pine plantation intermediate density average area = 3 acres

Garlic Mustard Data

Control: Pulling was implemented at 7

sites average area treated = 1.6

acres

Garlic Mustard Data

Other Invasives Recorded: Other invasives at 8 sites Buckthorn and honeysuckle

most common Also recorded: black locust,

reed canary grass, Dame’s rocket, wild parsnip, multi-floral rose, and purple loosestrife

Garlic Mustard Monitoring Continuation

Wisconsin NatureMapping website

Future recruitment and training of teachers

Integration with other monitoring projects

Future SF Monitoring Efforts

School Forest Monitoring Network

– Tree species, diameter, and height (volume, growth rates)

– Tree health– Understory diversity– Invertebrates– Tree regeneration

– Salamanders (board monitoring)

– Invasives– Downed woody debris